Mental health: Growing demand for veteran support, charities warn

Armed forces veteran Andrew McDonald-Rice works with charity Links Combined Forces

More military veterans are seeking help for their mental health in Wales but many find it difficult to know who to turn to, charities say.

Avoiding homelessness and finding work are among the issues facing those who have served in the armed forces.

"The need for support is there and it's growing," said Andrew McDonald-Rice from charity Links Combined Forces.

The Welsh and UK governments said both had invested in support services for veterans.

Links Combined Forces, which helps veterans suffering with mental health problems, is currently helping about 150 veterans in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.

Charity Help for Homeless Veterans UK wants to turn this building in Llanelli into flats for homeless veterans

They hold drop-in sessions every Tuesday morning, as well as regular coffee mornings on weekends.

"More veterans are coming out now and PTSD doesn't happen straight away. It takes time to fester and now it's happening," said Andrew McDonald-Rice, a project assistant at the charity.

Mr McDonald-Rice suffers from mental health issues after serving in the armed forces from 1986 to 1991.

He was referred to Links to deal with his mental health and now works with the charity, teaching figure painting classes with other veterans.

But he warned it can be difficult to know where to turn for help for veterans in Wales, with "lots of small charities doing our own things".

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Leaving the armed forces had been "like hitting a brick wall", he said.

"I wasn't given any help with housing or benefits.

"There was no support with mental health which started to deteriorate within six months of coming out."

Specialised mental health service Veterans NHS Wales said referrals for veterans with mental health problems increased year-on-year from 191 in 2010-11 to a high of 831 in 2019-20.

Referrals decreased this year, which the service says is likely due to the pandemic legacy.

Its own figures also showed more than 77% of veterans in Wales suffered at least one military trauma.

It said the majority of veterans presented with post-traumatic stress symptoms due to military trauma, but depression and anxiety symptoms were also common.

Homelessness among veterans is also a cause for concern.

Charity Helping Homeless Veterans UK claims 80% of the cases it deals with across England and Wales are veterans who have been evicted from private rental accommodation.

Jordan Davies completed two tours in Iraq

The charity is hoping to turn the old Raffles nightclub in Llanelli into flats for homeless veterans in the area.

Jordan Davies from Gwaun Cae Gurwen, Neath Port Talbot, is an electrician working on the project.

After serving in the Army until 2005 he suffered from PTSD after two tours in Iraq.

"It's difficult to transition, and then the pressure's on then when you're trying to start a family, trying to bring up your children," he said.

"You've got minimal job prospects, so yeah it was difficult," he added.

He said a lot of veterans were struggling.

"And the issue they have is they're so proud. They don't like asking for help.

"They hide in the background and never come forward. So we just want them to know that we're here for them," he said.

Jordan Davies says many veterans are struggling

The Welsh government said: "Across Wales, we fund Veterans NHS Wales to provide specialist mental health support and we have a Veterans Trauma Network to provide support for other service-related conditions.

"Earlier this year we launched a scheme for GP practices to become veteran friendly."

The UK government, which is responsible for defence, said: "This government is committed to make the UK the best country in the world to be a veteran.

"We have launched a range of support for veterans and their families across the UK, including in Wales, such as £8.55m to end veteran homelessness and £700,000 funding for organisations providing qualifications, training and skills development to veterans to support their transition into meaningful employment."

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